Free online MDB to XLS converter

Older reporting systems, business applications, and hardware may require an Excel 97–2003 workbook instead of an Access database. Converting selected tables or query results to XLS makes the data easier to edit, share, and import into software that cannot read MDB files.

What the MDB format is

MDB is the Microsoft Access database format used by default through Access 2003 and still available as a compatibility format in some later Access versions. It can use the Jet or ACE database engine and store tables, relationships, queries, forms, reports, macros, modules, indexes, and validation rules in one file.

MDB files are common in older accounting, inventory, survey, reporting, and custom business applications. A database can contain multiple related tables, whereas an XLS file normally contains flat worksheets. Linked tables may store their data in other files, so exporting the MDB does not necessarily export every external data source.

What the XLS format is

XLS is Microsoft Excel’s binary workbook format for Excel 97–2003. It supports worksheets, formulas, formatting, sorting, filtering, and charts, and remains useful when a legacy application or device does not accept XLSX.

Each XLS worksheet supports up to 65,536 rows and 256 columns. XLS is therefore less suitable than XLSX for large tables and does not represent Access relationships, forms, reports, indexes, or other database objects.

How to convert MDB to XLS

Using Microsoft Access

1. Make a backup of the original database.mdb file.
2. Open the database in Microsoft Access.
3. In the navigation pane, select the table or saved query to export. Use a query when the output must contain filtered, joined, grouped, or calculated data.
4. Choose External Data → Export → Excel.
5. Specify an output filename such as output.xls. In the format list, select Excel 97–2003 (*.xls), not XLSX.
6. Enable Export data with formatting and layout if the displayed appearance matters. Leave it disabled when the workbook will be sorted, filtered, or processed by another program.
7. Complete the export and inspect the workbook in Excel or LibreOffice Calc. Compare row counts and check dates, numeric values, text encoding, nulls, and column names.

Access exports the selected table or query; it does not turn the complete relational database into an equivalent multi-sheet XLS workbook. Repeat the operation for each object that must be included.

Using 101convert.com without installing software

You can convert an MDB file to XLS for free on 101convert.com without installing desktop software. Upload the file, choose XLS as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting workbook. Do not upload databases containing personal, financial, password-protected, or confidential information unless the service’s current privacy and retention terms are suitable.

Using MDBTools and LibreOffice

On systems without Access, MDBTools can extract basic tables to CSV, after which LibreOffice Calc can save each CSV as XLS:

1. List the available tables with mdb-tables -1 database.mdb.
2. Export a table with mdb-export database.mdb Customers > Customers.csv.
3. Open Customers.csv in LibreOffice Calc. In the import dialog, verify the delimiter, character encoding, quoted text, and column types.
4. Choose File → Save As, select Excel 97–2003 (.xls), and save the workbook.

This method requires a separate extraction for each table and preserves only exported cell data. MDBTools may fail with encrypted or damaged databases and has limited support for Access-specific types, expressions, and metadata.

Quality and compatibility limits

• The conversion produces spreadsheet data, not a replacement Access database. Relationships, primary keys, indexes, validation rules, forms, reports, saved queries, macros, VBA modules, and permissions are not preserved in XLS.
• Memo or Long Text fields, OLE Objects, multivalued fields, complex lookup fields, and other Access-specific types may be truncated, flattened, omitted, or converted to text. Check these fields manually.
• Access dates, currency, Boolean values, calculated fields, and nulls may be interpreted differently by spreadsheet software. Verify locale-dependent dates such as 03/04/2025 instead of assuming the intended day and month.
• Blank headers, duplicate column names, unsupported query expressions, and formulas can cause export warnings or altered results. Values beginning with =, +, -, or @ may be interpreted as spreadsheet formulas when opened.
• If a result exceeds the XLS row or column limits, split it into multiple worksheets or files, or use XLSX when the receiving system permits it.
• Retain the original MDB as the authoritative source. XLS is an exchange and reporting format and does not preserve the database structure needed for relational queries or future editing in Access.